Trip itinerary / Osaka & Kyoto / 6 days

6-Day Osaka and Kyoto Autumn Itinerary

Planning a 6-day autumn trip to Osaka and Kyoto involves balancing peak foliage, shopping districts, and Universal Studios Japan. This route uses three hotel bases to eliminate early-morning cross-city transit, though late-night hotel switches require disciplined luggage handling.

Illuminated wooden main hall stage and red autumn maple leaves under a blue light beam during night viewing at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, Japan.

Travel period

19–24 Nov 2023

Trip style

Autumn foliage, theme park, shopping

Transport

Public rail and express trains

Pace

Active with multi-base moves

The six-day autumn route

This itinerary minimizes morning travel times by shifting accommodation bases from central Namba to USJ and finally central Kyoto. It maximizes foliage viewing during peak late-November colors while keeping transit straightforward via local and airport rail links.

19 Nov 2023

Day 1

Sleep in Osaka

Arrival, Rinku Outlet and Dotonbori

08:10 – 12:45

Fly from Hong Kong to KIX

CX596

Board Cathay Pacific flight CX596 departing Hong Kong at 08:10 for the four-hour flight to Kansai International Airport. Use the transit time to rest before landing at 12:45, then proceed through customs toward airport transport.

13:30 - 18:00

Rinku Premium Outlets

Store luggage at Rinku-Town Station before visiting Rinku Premium Outlets for afternoon shopping. Take the Nankai Main Line or shuttle bus to reach the outlet within 20 minutes from the airport terminal.

19:30 - 22:00

Dotonbori Street Food and Shopping

Dotonbori, Osaka

Check in at Hotel Vista Osaka-namba, then walk to Dotonbori. Sample fresh takoyaki (octopus balls), photograph the Glico Man sign, and explore late-night drugstore shopping along the arcades before returning to the hotel on foot.

Famous giant 3D red octopus sculpture holding a takoyaki ball at the Dotonbori Kukuru Konamon Museum in Osaka, Japan. — Giant red octopus takoyaki sign in Dotonbori, Osaka.

20 Nov 2023

Day 2

Sleep in Osaka

Expo '70 Park and Shinsaibashi

12:00 – 14:30

Expo '70 Commemorative Park

Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Suita

Take the Osaka Monorail to Banpaku-kinenkoen Station. Explore autumn foliage surrounding Taro Okamoto’s Tower of the Sun, a key pilgrimage site for fans of 20th Century Boys. Allow 2.5 hours for walking the park grounds.

The back of Taro Okamoto’s Tower of the Sun sculpture featuring the black Sun of the Past face at Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Suita, Osaka, Japan. — Back of the Tower of the Sun at Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Osaka.

Evening

Shinsaibashi PARCO and Namba Shopping

Shinsaibashi PARCO, Osaka

Return south to Shinsaibashi to shop at PARCO and surrounding department stores. This area offers extensive dining options, anime/character shops, and retail spaces within short walking distance of the hotel.

Life-sized statues of Misae and Hiroshi Nohara from Crayon Shin-chan inside the official store at Shinsaibashi PARCO in Osaka, Japan. — Crayon Shin-chan character statues at Shinsaibashi PARCO in Osaka.

21 Nov 2023

Day 3

Sleep in Liber Hotel Osaka

Namba Shopping and USJ Base Transfer

Morning to Afternoon

Namba District and Namba Parks

Namba Parks, Osaka

Spend the morning exploring Namba's commercial center and the terraced garden architecture of Namba Parks. Store luggage at the hotel to keep hands free during daytime shopping and dining.

Late Afternoon

Transfer Base to Liber Hotel Osaka

Universal City / Sakurajima, Osaka

Retrieve luggage and take the JR Yumesaki Line to Sakurajima Station (adjacent to Liber Hotel Osaka). Settling near USJ tonight allows a stress-free start for early theme park entry tomorrow morning without cross-town morning transit.

22 Nov 2023

Day 4

Sleep in Kyoto

Universal Studios Japan and Kyoto Transfer

08:00 – 19:30

Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan, Osaka

Enter USJ at opening (8:00 AM) to maximize attraction access. Pre-booked Express Passes are strongly recommended during peak autumn crowds. Remain in the park until early evening closure around 19:30 for nighttime shows.

Read recommendation ↗

Mario and Luigi costumed characters with holiday decorations in Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan (USJ), Osaka. — Mario and Luigi at Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan.

19:30 – 22:00

Rail Transfer to Kyoto

Return to Liber Hotel Osaka after USJ park closure to retrieve stored baggage. Board the JR Yumesaki Line to Nishikujo Station, transfer to the JR Loop Line for Osaka Station, and connect to a JR Special Rapid train bound for Kyoto Station (total train journey approx. 60 minutes). From Kyoto Station, take a brief subway or taxi ride to Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto to check in by 22:00.

23 Nov 2023

Day 5

Sleep in Kyoto

Arashiyama and Kiyomizudera Night Illumination

10:30 – 15:30

Arashiyama Autumn Leaves Viewing

Arashiyama, Kyoto

Take the JR San-in Line from Kyoto/Nijo to Saga-Arashiyama Station. Spend five hours visiting the Bamboo Grove, Togetsukyo Bridge, and surrounding temples under peak autumn colors. Expect heavy foliage crowds along main thoroughfares.

Read recommendation ↗

Looking up at towering bamboo stalks and a crowded walking trail inside the famous Sagano Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. — Towering bamboo stalks at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto

17:00 – 18:30

Kiyomizudera Special Autumn Night Illumination

Kiyomizudera Temple, Kyoto

Transfer across Kyoto via train and bus to Kiyomizudera. Experience the special evening illumination over the main stage and surrounding maple trees. Purchase entry tickets upon arrival and prepare for steep walkways and dense evening crowds.

Read recommendation ↗

Kiyomizudera Special Autumn Night Illumination

24 Nov 2023

Day 6

Nanzen-ji, Kyoto Shopping, and Departure

09:30 – 11:00

Nanzen-ji Temple Autumn Foliage

Nanzen-ji, Kyoto

Take the Kyoto Subway Tozai Line to Keage Station and walk to Nanzen-ji. Spend 1.5 hours exploring the temple grounds, iconic Suirokaku Aqueduct, and vivid maple leaves during peak morning light.

Red Japanese maple leaves framing the grand wooden Sanmon Gate with visitors during autumn peak season at Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. — Autumn maple foliage in front of Sanmon Gate at Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto

11:30 – 12:30

Downtown Kyoto Shopping

Daikokucho, Kyoto

Browse the distinctive local shops set within traditional Japanese-style buildings near Daikokucho and Hotel Vista Premio Kyoto for matcha and regional souvenirs. Collect our stored luggage from the hotel before taking a short bus route to Kyoto Station.

Traditional Japanese machiya style exterior of the Columbia Sportswear retail store on a street in Kyoto, Japan. — Columbia Sportswear store in a traditional machiya building in Kyoto

13:45 – 15:00

Kansai Airport Express Haruka to KIX

Board the 13:45 Kansai Airport Express Haruka (featuring Hello Kitty livery, often mistaken for Shinkansen) directly from Kyoto Station to KIX, arriving around 15:00.

Sleek Hello Kitty Haruka limited express train with floral and character liveries stopped at a train station platform in Japan. — Hello Kitty Haruka airport express train in Japan

18:05 – 21:35

Departure Flight to Hong Kong

CX507

Clear security and customs at KIX Terminal 1. Flight CX507 departs at 18:05, returning to Hong Kong International Airport at 21:35 local time.